Buckle



(No Model.)

. G. W. LONGNEGKER.

BUCKLE.

No. 319,734. Patented June 9., 1885.

TORNEYS.

NITED STATES FFICEQ BUCKLE.-

. SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No 319,734, dated June 9,1885.

I Applicati n filed April 14,1885. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, Gnoncn W. LONGNECK- ER, a citizen of theUnitedStates, and a resident of \Vinchester, in the county of Randolpha'nd'State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Buckles; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear,and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of thisspecification.

-My invention relates to that class of clamping buckles which areespecially adapted for use in securing the straps of pantaloons orvests, and for similar purposes; and it consists in constructinga buckleof the above-described class in such a manner as to adapt it to besecured in operative position, with the ends of the two straps passingthrough it, without sewing or otherwise permanently securing the buckleto either strap, the buckle holding the end of each strap firmly,smoothly, and securely without presenting any exterior sharp pointswhich would tend to catch and tear the lining of the coat or vest.

My invention also embodies further improvements, the nature and scope ofwhich will be hereinafter fully described ,and pointed out in theclaims.

Referring to the annexed drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of myimproved buckle in its operative position,the side of the buckleframebeing removed,as shown in dotted lines. Fig. 2 is aside View of thebuckle detached from the straps. Fig. 3 is a perspective view. Fig. 4 isa bottom plan view, and Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing the severalparts of the buckle detached from each other.

The same letters indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Referring to the several parts by letter, A represents the main frame ofthe buckle,which is preferably rectangular in shape and of a sufficientwidth to admit ofthe free passage through it of the strap ends. Thelower right-hand edge, or the edge which is to the right in Fig.1, iscast with a series of curved or inclined points or teeth, a the ends ofwhich project up above the plane of the lower side of the buckle to apoint lying in a plane about midway between I the upper and lower sidesof the buckle-frame.

A metallic plate, a which serves as a combined locking plate and shield,is hinged or pivotally secured between the rear ends of the sides a ofthe buckle-frame,immediately above vthe points of the inclined teeth a,forthe pur pose hereinafter specified. 7

Between the upper forward ends of the sides a is hinged or pivoted alocking plate or lever, B, the inner longitudinal edge of which is bentdown at right angles, while its forward free end is provided with thedownwardlycurved forwardly-pro ecting teeth or points I).

The operation of my improved buckle is as follows: .In applying it tothe straps of a vest, for example, the free end of the left-hand strapis passed through the buckle between the combined pivoted locking plateand shield a and the upwardly-inclined teeth (1 The free end of theright-hand strap is now inserted through the buckle, passing over theshield at and beneath the forward locking-plate,B,which during theinsertion of the strap end is partially elevated at its free end, asshown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. By drawing upon the free extremities ofthe two straps they may be tightened to any desired extent when thelocking-plate B is turned down, so that the downwardly curved forwardlyprojecting teeth upon its forward end will enter the strap, while itslongitudinal rear edge (which, as before stated, is bent down at rightangles) serves to lock or bind both of the straps against the bottom ofthe buckle-frame at thatpoint. The upwardly-projecting teeth a enter thefabric of the lower strap, and the tightened upper strap, following thecurvature of the body, presses the combined locking plate and shield a,against which it bears, down upon the upwardly-projecting teeth of,which project up through the end of the lower strap, thereby firmlylocking the lower strap end in such a manner that it is impossible forit to become loose. The shield a also serves to prevent the teeth a fromtearing the lining of the coat or vest, while the downwardly-proj ectingteeth b of the forward looking -plate, B, are also shielded by thatportion of the lower or lefthand strap which extends immediately beneaththem.

It will be seen that by constructing my improved buckle in the mannerdescribed it may be applied to the straps of any vest or pair ofpantaloons in a moment, without the necessity of sewing or otherwisepermanentlyfastening it to either strap, so that a person having severalpairs of pantaloons and vests will only require two buckles, as thebuckle can be instantly changed from one vest or pair of pantaloons toanother, thereby effecting a considerable saving, especially to personsin the country who may use homemade clothing. The position of the buckleupon the two straps may be changed so vas to avoid unequal wear at anyone point of the straps. The ends of the straps may be drawn through thebuckle so as to fill the entire width'of the buckle, thereby preventingthe buckle from slipping from one side to another, while the teeth ofthe buckle are effectually prevented from tearing the lining of the vestor coat. The extremity of the outer strap may be locked in the buckle,and the lower strap drawn through the buckle until the straps are tight,by which arrangement the ends of both straps are prevented-from hangingloose.

Having thus described my invention, what I shield, and the pivotedforward locking-plate having the downwardly-projecting teeth, as setforth.

3. The combination of the main frame having the upwardly-projectingteeth, the pivotedcombined locking plate and shield, and the pivotedforward locking-plate having the downwardly projecting teeth, and itsrear longitudinal edge bent down at right angles, for the purposespecified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereuntoafiixed my signature in presence of two witnesses. GEORGE W. LONGNEOKER.Witnesses:

BENJAMIN F. MARsH, LEANDER A. CANADA.

